World Indoor Athletics Championships: Christine Ohuruogu inspires 4x400m relay team to gold in Istanbul - Telegraph Athletics World Indoor Athletics Championships: Christine Ohuruogu inspires 4x400m relay team to gold in Istanbul Christine Ohuruogu, the Olympic 400 metres champion whose injury woes have turned her into the forgotten woman of British athletics, gave the first sign that she is back to her best on Sunday. Winners' enclosure: Christine Ohuruogu, right, with from left Perri Shakes-Drayton, Shana Cox and Nicola Sanders Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Simon Hart , in Istanbul 7:54PM GMT 11 Mar 2012 Follow Ohuruogu ran a storming 4x400 metres relay leg to fire Britain to gold at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul. The victory by the GB quartet of Shana Cox, Nicola Sanders, Ohuruogu and Perri Shakes-Drayton crowned a superb weekend for Britain, who achieved their best-ever haul at a World Indoors of nine medals - two golds, three silvers and four bronzes.

The previous record was the seven medals won in 2003, when Britain had home advantage in Birmingham. At one point on Sunday, Britain’s medal tally could even have been higher when, briefly, Mo Farah was awarded the 3,000m bronze after the referee judged that Kenya’s Edwin Cheruiyot Soi, who had crossed the line ahead of Farah in third place, had impeded him. The decision was later reversed on appeal, however, and Farah went away empty-handed — one of the few disappointments of a championship that ended with Britain occupying second place behind the United States in the medals table. Related Articles BOA 'life ban' tested in London 12 Mar 2012 It was not the only decision by officialdom that went against Britain as an American disqualification in the men’s 4x400m final, which would have given the GB team the gold, was later reversed by a jury of appeal, leaving Britain with the silver. The other GB medals arrived courtesy of Shara Proctor in the long jump, Holly Bleasdale in the pole vault and Andrew Osagie in the 800m.

The timing of Britain’s success could not be better with just four months until the start of the Olympics, and the return to form of the woman who was born and raised just a short walk from the Olympic Stadium in Stratford is welcome news for UK head coach Charles van Commenee, who has made the women’s 4x400m relay one of his key medal targets this summer. Ohuruogu, 27, whose last appearance at a World Championship in Daegu last summer will be remembered for her tears at false-starting in her individual 400m race, has long been a shadow of the athlete who won the world title in 2007 and the Olympic crown a year later, but the blessing of an injury-free winter has clearly brought about a rejuvenation. Running the penultimate leg for Britain, Ohuruogu was in third place and about 10 metres down on American race leader Jernail Hayes when she received the baton from Sanders, but by the end of her two laps she had given anchor runner Perri Shakes-Drayton a three-metre lead.

Shakes-Drayton, the 400m hurdles specialist who trains at the same east London stadium as Ohuruogu, made the most of her advantage with a courageous final leg, holding off a fierce fight-back in the final straight by American world indoor champion Sanya Richards-Ross to take the gold. After their lap of honour, one of the first people to congratulate Ohuruogu was Yamile Aldama, the Cuban-born triple jumper who, at the age of 39, had won Britain’s first gold of the championships with her brilliant leap of 14.82 metres on Saturday. “I’m so proud of you. It was for you I did it,” said Ohuruogu as they shared a victory embrace. She later described Aldama’s triumph as an inspiration. But Ohuruogu has never been the kind of person to get carried away by one performance, and she was at pains to play down the significance of her first global title in four years. “It’s good but I have to keep it in perspective because it’s only part of the bigger picture,” she said.

“I’ve had five or six months of training and so I’m happy that I can finish my winter portion of the training in one piece and after a successful run. "The girls are all very happy that we’ve got a gold medal but nothing’s going to change. I’ll still go home tomorrow and train as if nothing’s happened.” She is right not to read too much into success in Istanbul, where many of the world’s best athletes have been absent, though there were some GB performance over the weekend that were indisputably world-class and augur well for the summer. American-born Tiffany Porter’s silver behind Australian world champion Sally Pearson in the 60m hurdles on Saturday confirmed her Olympic credentials, particularly after the distraction of the ‘Plastic Brit’ furore that erupted when she rejected a reporter’s request to sing the National Anthem after being appointed GB captain. On Sunday, Proctor showed that she, too, is a genuine medal contender in London when she broke her own British record with her bronze medal-winning long jump of 6.89 metres.

Bleasdale also showed an impressive consistency beyond her 20 years with a clearance of 4.70m to win bronze, though Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva proved a class apart as she sailed over the bar at 4.80m to win her fourth world indoor title. Other British athletes who finished just outside the medals can take heart from their performances. Teenager Andrew Pozzi continued to impress with fourth place in the 60m hurdles while Robbie Grabarz held his own to finish sixth in a high jump final loaded with talent. BBC - World Athletics Championships - BBC commentators - Media Centre BBC Radio 5 live Allison Curbishley A former British Olympian, Allison is now a familiar voice for athletics on BBC Radio 5 live. Allison, a 400 metre runner, competed at the highest level including two Olympic Games (Atlanta and Sydney), World and European Championships and the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Allison remains the Scottish record holder for the women’s 400 metres.

Since 2003, Allison has been a key part of the 5 live commentary team, covering three Olympic Games (Athens, Beijing and London), two Paralympic Games (Beijing and London) we well as World and European Championships and Commonwealth Games. Away from her broadcasting career Allison promotes International Netball and works with Sporting Ambassadors; teaming current sporting professionals with schools and community groups to provide positive role models to young people and encouraging participation in sport. Steve Backley OBE Olympic medallist Steve Backley OBE will be a key part of Radio 5 live’s commentary team at London 2012. Steve won Olympic bronze in Barcelona in 1992 before winning silver medals in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney in 2000 in the javelin and as a result is the only British athlete to have medalled at three consecutive Games. He also won three Commonwealth and four European Championship gold medals between 1990 and 2002. Steve was part of the 5 live commentary team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and London 2012.

Mike Costello Mike Costello is one of BBC Radio 5 live's most recognisable voices, having commentated on athletics and boxing for the station since 2006. His passion for both sports has guided listeners through the highs and lows of these much-loved events. Having previously worked for the BBC World Service in a similar role, Mike has covered every World Athletics Championships since Gothenburg in 1995. Mike was a key part of the 5 live sports team for London 2012, having commentated on the previous five. He credits being able to follow the successes of athletes, such as Usain Bolt, as the most uplifting experiences of his broadcasting career so far. Sonja McLaughlan Broadcasting on the BBC since 1998, Sonja has been part of some of the biggest sporting events in the world, including every Olympic games since Atlanta 1996, the Rugby World Cup, World Championship Athletics, the London Marathon and the University Boat race. Since joining as a trainee in 1988, Sonja has become one of the BBC’s most experienced broadcasters. She learnt her trade as a news reporter before joining the sports team from where she has never looked back.

Sonja was the first woman to produce BBC Radio’s rugby union output and made her name on the BBC’s Six Nations coverage, along with her work as a reporter for BBC Radio 5 live and Rugby Union for Grandstand. Sonja can also be seen presenting the sports news throughout the week on BBC News and BBC World News and played a major role in the commentary team for last year’s Olympic Games. Mark Pougatch A seasoned and respected broadcaster across radio and television over many years, Mark Pougatch has presented some of the biggest shows in sports journalism and his CV includes Match of The Day and Football Focus on BBC television. Mark has also broadcast from every major sporting event that the station covers including the Cricket, Rugby and Football World Cups and Commonwealth Games. He presented from London 2012 for Radio 5 live – his fourth summer Olympics and from Wimbledon 2013. On Radio 5 live he has broadcast right across the schedule in both sport and news roles including presenting 5 live breakfast, Drive, Test Match Special, on 5 live sport anchoring the flagship Saturday programme and presents the iconic Sports Report.

Donovan Bailey Donovan Bailey, once the fastest man on earth, is a track and field legend having competed at world class level throughout the 1990s. He held the world record for the men’s 100 metres at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta with a time of 9.84 seconds. He also claimed gold as part of the men’s 4x100 metre relay. The Canadian sprinter is a three-time World Athletics Champion, having competed in Gothenburg (1995) where he claimed a gold medal in the men’s 100 metres and 100 metre relay. He returned to the world stage in Athens (1997) to help his team retain the men’s 100 metre relay gold medal. Before becoming an athlete, Donovan was a stockbroker. He now lives in Toronto, Canada and regularly co-commentates for Canadian television. Donovan is new to the BBC Radio 5 live commentary team for 2013.

BBC Television Gabby Logan A key member of the BBC’s presentation team for the London 2012 Olympics, Gabby presents Final Score, Inside Sport, the Six Nations and the Autumn Rugby Internationals for BBC One. Gabby has hosted a live daily show on Channel 5, LIVE with Gabby Logan, the FIFA 2011 Women’s World Cup for BBC Three, Match of the Day, the One Show and was in South Africa in 2010 reporting on the England team for the FIFA 2010 World Cup and Beijing in 2008 for the Olympics. A former international gymnast, Gabby began her broadcasting career in radio in 1992 and joined Sky Sports in 1996, where she quickly established herself as a football presenter. First joining ITV in 1998 to front On The Ball, during her nine years at the channel Gabby’s repertoire expanded and her presenting credits include the World Cup, Champions League and the Premiership, as well as the Boat Race and sports news reporting. In 2004 she co-hosted Sport Relief with Gary Lineker for the BBC, before joining the corporation in 2007.

Following various stints on the station, Gabby began presenting a regular weekly Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 5 Live in February 2008. From January 2010 to April 2011 she presented The Gabby Logan Show weekdays from 12pm – 2pm, which covered news and sport from across the UK as well as comprehensive analysis of Prime Minister's Questions every Wednesday. She is a columnist for The Times and has previously written for the Sunday Mirror, Independent and Yorkshire Post. Jonathan Edwards CBE Jonathan Edwards' achievements on the track have earned him a place in history as one of the World's greatest and most admired athletes. Almost 17 years after his incredible efforts in Gothenburg, Jonathan Edwards still holds the world record for the triple jump at 18.29m. In 2000 Jonathan won a gold medal during the Sydney 2000 Olympics and returned home to a hero's welcome. After a career that spanned 15 years, Jonathan made his last competitive triple jump at the World Athletics Championships in Paris in 2003; he retired soon after as one of Great Britain's most successful athletes.

Jonathan has received several awards in recognition of his sporting achievements including BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1995; an MBE in 1996 and then a CBE in 2001. Since retiring Jonathan became one of BBC Sport’s key pundits and commentators covering all the major athletics events, including the Olympics in London 2012, Beijing in 2008 and Athens in 2004. Jonathan has been part of the presentation team throughout 2013, covering the Diamond League meetings and the London Anniversary Games for the BBC. Colin Jackson Colin Jackson is without a doubt one of the greatest athletes that Great Britain has ever produced, with almost over a decade spent at the very pinnacle of his sport. As a 110m hurdler, Colin was ranked in the world top ten for 16 years and he was World No.1 from 1992-1994. For the last seven years of his career Colin was never out of the world’s top 3 and went on to set seven European, eight Commonwealth and nine UK records at 110m hurdles.

Colin still holds the World Record over 60m hurdles indoors (7.30, Sindelfingen 1994). On retirement, Colin was a natural choice to become one of the key members of the BBC’s sports production team and he continues to cover all of their Athletics output as a BBC pundit. His broadcasting career began by covering the Athens Olympics and since then he has been an integral part of the BBC output for all major athletic events since including the London Olympics last year and Beijing Olympics in 2008. Colin traced his roots in a moving episode of BBC One's highly acclaimed, ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ and appeared on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Colin worked extensively with the BBC Wales award nominated sport website ‘Raise your Game’ from 2004 until early 2012, which, with the help of celebrity interviews and invaluable advice, encouraged children to be ambitious in sport and life in general. Steve Cram MBE Steve Cram is one of the UK's most famous sporting personalities.

As an athlete his career was forged alongside Coe and Ovett to form a period of unprecedented success in British athletics and since his retirement he has built a solid broadcasting career as a presenter/commentator for the BBC. In a career spanning over three decades, since appearing as a 17 year old at the Commonwealth Games in 1978, Steve’s many achievements include six Gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and the European and World Championships. At the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, Steve returned from injury to take a silver medal in the 1500m behind Sebastian Coe. The following year he broke world records in the 1500m, 2000m and Mile, all within 19 days; the latter lasting almost nine years. In 1983 Steve was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, one of the few athletes to have won the award, and in 1986 he was awarded an MBE. Since retiring from competitive athletics Steve has become a successful television commentator, first with Eurosport, and then with Channel 4 before joining the BBC as the Chief Athletics Commentator.

Steve was part of the BBC’s presentation team during the London 2012 Olympics. He also co-presented the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Athens in 2004, both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing 2008 and the Vancouver Winter Games in 2010. Steve has also been a regular contributor to BBC Radio 5 live including hosting the popular 606 and Sunday Sport shows. Phil Jones Phil is the BBC’s trackside athletics reporter, having first taken on that role at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He subsequently covered the London 2012 Olympics, Beijing Olympics in 2008, World Championships in Osaka in 2007 & Berlin 2009 and European Championships in Gothenburg in 2006 & Barcelona in 2010 – along with all the BBC’s domestic athletics output, including the London Marathon and Great North Run. Phil currently presents sport on the BBC World News channel out of MediaCity in his home city of Salford.

He carried out a similar role for almost eight years from September 1994 for CNN International, hosting their flagship World Sport show almost 2,000 times and co-hosting CNN’s coverage of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002, World Cup football in France in 1998 and both Euro 96 and Euro 2000 football tournaments. He also presented CNN’s weekly golf show for two years, reported from the Masters and co-hosted the US PGA Championship for CNNSi in 2001. Denise Lewis OBE Denise Lewis OBE is a retired British athlete who specialised in the heptathlon, in which and she won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Alongside Kelly Holmes, Paula Radcliffe and Christine Ohuruogu, Lewis is one of the current "golden girls" of British athletics and has twice (1998 and 2000) been runner up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. In 2004, Lewis took part in the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing”.

She was partnered alongside professional dancer, Ian Waite and in the first few weeks scored the highest number of points with the judges. She eventually reached the final and was runner-up to actress Jill Halfpenny. In 2009, Denise was a pundit for BBC Sport's coverage of the 2009 World Athletics Championships from Berlin alongside Michael Johnson and Colin Jackson a role she filled again for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. In 2012, Denise brought her sporting expertise to the BBC’s presentation team for the London Olympic Games. This year, Denise is once again a major part of the BBC’s athletics output as she presents from Diamond League meetings and the London Anniversary Games as well as the World Athletics Championships. Paula Radcliffe MBE Paula Radcliffe is one of Britain’s most successful athletes and still holds the world record for the women’s marathon with a time of 2:15:25 hours. A three-time winner of both the London and New York marathons, she is the former world champion of the marathon, half marathon and cross country.

In 2002, Paula won the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Award after winning her first London Marathon, the Chicago Marathon, 10,000 metres in the European Championships and gold in the 5000 metres at the Manchester Commonwealth Games all in the same year. The long-distance runner represented Great Britain at four consecutive Olympic Games (1996 to 2008) and six World Athletics Championships (1993, 95, 97, 99, 2001 and 2005), winning Britain’s only gold medal in Helsinki in 2005. Paula will join Gabby Logan and the team in Moscow, bringing all her expertise to the Championships for BBC television. Andrew Cotter Andrew Cotter is one of the most recognised voices across BBC Television and Radio’s coverage of golf, rugby and tennis and has recently joined the BBC’s athletics team.

Originally a presenter of sports bulletins on BBC Radio 5 live, as well as Radio 1, 2 and 4, Andrew went on to become a sports presenter on the BBC News Channel, while at the same time building a career commentating on golf and rugby for BBC Radio and Television, working on major events including the Six Nations, Ryder Cup, The US Masters, US Open and USPGA. Andrew began his broadcasting career in commercial radio in his native Scotland, going on to work for Sky News before joining the BBC in 2000. Andrew will join Gabby Logan and the team as part of BBC televisions coverage of the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow. Paul Dickenson As an athlete, Paul Dickenson competed in two consecutive Summer Olympics; Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980. He held the British and Commonwealth records for throwing the hammer. Paul joined the BBC Sports team in 1987 as a trackside reporter and since 1990 he has commentated on every major athletics meeting for the BBC, as well as the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Paul is a voice that is known to millions.

Amongst many major outside broadcasts, Paul has also commentated on the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as programmes such as the Lord Mayors Show, Superstars, World’s Strongest Man, Comic Relief and Sports Relief. Brendan Foster MBE Brendan Foster's athletics career saw him compete in in three Olympic Games; the 1970 Commonwealth Championships in Edinburgh (15,000m), the 1974 European Championships (5,000m) and the 1978 Commonwealth Championship in Edmonton (10,000m). He also set two world records for the 3,000m (1972 and 1974), competed in three Olympic Games and claimed Britain's only track and field medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. In 1980, Brendan retired from active athletics. His career as a commentator began shortly afterwards and he has worked for the BBC commentating and reporting on Athletics at every major event since 1983, including last year’s Olympic Games in London. Brendan was also the brains behind Britain's biggest annual road race, The Great North Run.

Brendan Foster was awarded the MBE in 1976 and a CBE in 2008. Michael Johnson Michael Johnson is one of the most successful runners in the world and is generally considered one of the greatest sprinters in the history of track and field. He made history at the 1996 Olympics where he became the first man to ever win a gold medal for both the 200 metres and 400 metres at the same Olympics. During his career he has won 19 international gold medals. He held the world record for the 200 metres between 1996 -2008, his world record for the 400 metres set in 1999 is yet to be broken. Michael’s many accolades include being inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall Of Fame, being named U.S Male Olympian of the Decade (1990-1999), winning an ESPN Award and being awarded International Sportsman of the Year in 2000. After winning the 400 metres and 4x400m relay at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Michael retired.

He is now an integral part to the BBC’s commentary team providing expert analysis on a range of athletics sporting events, including last year’s Olympic Games in London. He has also appeared on Radio 4’s iconic programme Desert Island Discs. Daily guide for the World Athletics Championships | Sport | The Guardian Daily guide for the World Athletics Championships These championships will be a marker of expectation for Team GB in next year's Olympics Dai Greene will be a gold medal contender in the 400 metres hurdles at the World Championships in Daegu. Photograph: John Giles/PA Daily guide for the World Athletics Championships These championships will be a marker of expectation for Team GB in next year's Olympics Guardian staff Friday 26 August 2011 14.58 EDT First published on Friday 26 August 2011 14.58 EDT This article is 5 years old Day 1, Saturday 27 August Highlights The women's marathon will offer up the first medals of the championships.

The heat and humidity in Daegu could lead to a surprise winner British hopes Alyson Dixon and Susan Partridge will run for Britain in the marathon Finals Women's marathon, women's 10,000m, decathlon day one Day 2, Sunday 28 August Highlights The world's fastest men will go head-to-head in the 100m final.

Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius runs in the 400m British hopes Mo Farah is one of the favourites to take gold in the 10,000m Finals Men's 20km walk, women's long jump, men's discus, men's 10,000m, men's 100m, decathlon final day Day 3, Monday 29 August Highlights Two short, sharp bursts of excitement: the women's 100m final and the men's 110m hurdles final British hopes Christine Ohuruogu will do well to repeat her 400m win in 2007 Finals Men's hammer, men's pole vault, women's shot put, women's 400m final, women's 100m final, men's 110m hurdles Day 4, Tuesday 30 August Highlights Will Kenya's David Rushida break his own world record?

We'll find out in the men's 800m final British hopes All eyes on Jessica Ennis as the heptathlon ends with the 800m Finals Heptathlon final day, women's pole vault, men's discus, men's 800m, women's 3,000m steeplechase, men's 400m Day 5, Wednesday 31 August Highlights Most of the events take a breather – the only one scheduled is the women's 20km walk British hopes Jo Jackson won gold at the Commonwealth Games last year but faces a step up in quality at the world championships.

Russia's Olga Kaniskina is favourite Finals Women's 20km walk Day 6, Thursday 1 September Highlights The men's high jump usually provides a tense finish and thrills for spectators British hopes Dai Greene and Perri Shakes-Drayton have a chance in the men's and women's 400m hurdles respectively Finals Men's high jump, women's triple jump, men's steeplechase, women's 1,500m, men's and women's 400m hurdles Day 7, Friday 2 September Highlights America's Allyson Felix can win her fourth world title in the 200m British hopes Chris Tomlinson can compete with the best long jumpers when he's on form.

Goldie Sayers has a chance in the javelin Finals Men's shot put, women's javelin, men's long jump, women's 5,000m, women's 200m, men's 4x400m relay Day 8, Saturday 3 September Highlights Usain Bolt should claim his second gold of the championships in the 200m British hopes American-born Tiffany Ofili-Porter has a good chance of a medal in the 100m hurdles Finals Men's 50km walk, women's high jump, men's javelin, men's 1,500m, women's 4x400m relay, women's 100m hurdles, men's 200m Day 9, Sunday 4 September Highlights Caster Semenya defends her 800m title.

The 4x100m always provides entertainment British hopes Phillips Idowu (triple jump) and Mo Farah (5,000m) are both contenders for gold Finals Men's marathon, women's hammer, men's triple jump, men's 5,000m, women's 800m, men's and women's 4x100m relay Athletics | Sports Speakers and Endorsements Barry Davies MBE Barry is a legendary commentator with one of the most-recognisable voices in Britain. He has covered a wide range of sports in a long career, primarily for the BBC. Although he is best known for his football commentary, Davies has commentated on numerous other sports, including badminton, beach volleyball, cycling, ice hockey, ice skating, tennis, gymnastics, hockey and athletics, and primarily in the BBC’s Olympics coverage, where he twice (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004) commentated on the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Games.

He was also the ‘Voice of the Boat Race’ between 1993 and 2004, until the BBC lost the rights to cover the event, and the presenter of Maestro in the 1980s, a series of interviews with retired sporting legends. About Barry Davies was educated at Cranbrook School—which also numbers commentators Brian Moore and Peter West Continue Reading » Beth Tweddle MBE Beth has raised the performance levels and standards of British gymnasts: she is a three-time world champion, having won the 2010 World Championships and 2006 World Championships on the uneven bars and the 2009 World Championships on the floor. Tweddle was the first gymnast from Britain ever to win a medal at the World and European Championships, and is considered to be the most successful British gymnast of all time. She is also a seven-time British National Champion, having won the title every year between 2001 and 2007. Additionally, she is a three time Olympian, competing in the 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London Olympic Games, where she took home a bronze.

About At an early age Beth’s family moved to England and she now lives in Bunbury and trains in the Park Road gym in Liverpool, where she Continue Reading » Brendan Foster CBE Brendan was a world-class middle-distance runner who has gone on to become a TV personality and the driving force behind the Great North Run. He was educated at St Joseph’s Grammar School and the University of Sussex. Foster’s athletic career saw him compete in three Olympic Games, claiming Britain’s only track and field medal – bronze in the 10,000m – at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. In 1974 he won the European Championships 5000m, beating Olympic champ Lasse Viren en route to gold. In the same year he also broke the 3000m world record on his home track, Gateshead Stadium. Also that year, Foster was awarded the BBC’s prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award. He also won 10,000m gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton and, in 1973, broke the world record for two miles at Crystal Palace.

Foster Continue Reading » Carl Lewis Carl is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. He is known for his world records in running as well as his records in the long jump. He started participating in long jump events when he was just 13 years old. He received the James E. Sullivan Award for the best athlete in 1981 and in the World Championships in 1983, he made his mark by winning in the 100m sprint, long jump and the 4 x 100m relay events. Carl Lewis then went on to become the indisputable champion in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Carl went on to repeat his spectacular performance of 1983 in Rome in 1987, and then in the 1988 Seoul Olympics he went on to win 4 more golds. As a result of his outstanding performances he was named Athlete of the Continue Reading » Charles van Commenee Dutch athletics coach, Charles van Commenee, is a world leading expert on performance management.

Serving as Head Coach of British Athletics from 2008 to 2012, he was the mastermind behind the most successful night in GB Olympic history. Coaching Career Charles first became involved in coaching at the age of eighteen and began teaching children while studying for a degree in physical education. After completing his military service in 1981, he dedicated himself to coaching full time and, in 1987, was appointed as the coach for the Dutch javelin team. Building upon his coaching success, he was promoted to technical director of combined events and throws by the Dutch athletics federation, in 1992. Coaching Denise Lewis In 1994, Charles van Commenee started working with British athlete Denise Lewis. Under Charles, Denise would go on to become champion at Continue Reading » Chrissie Wellington MBE Chrissie is an English triathlete and the current Ironman Triathlon World Champion. She holds all three world and championship records relating to ironman-distance triathlon races. She is the first British athlete to hold the Ironman Triathlon World Championship, and remains undefeated over the Ironman distance.

Wellington won the World Championship in three consecutive years (2007–2009), but was unable to start the 2010 World Championship race because of illness, then regained the title in 2011. Before her distinguished career in athletics, Chrissie worked for the British government as an adviser on international development for Rural Reconstruction Nepal, and on development projects in Nepal. International development remains one of her passions. Chrissie Wellington is the only triathlete, male or female, to have won the World Championship less than a year after turning professional. Wellington is one of only three women to have achieved Continue Reading » Christine Ohuruogu MBE Christine is one of Britain’s greatest middle-distance runners, specialising in the 400 metres; the event for which she is the former Olympic, World and Commonwealth Champion. Her victory in the Beijing Games was the 50th gold medal for Great Britain in Athletics at Olympic Games. She also won the 400 metres at the 2007 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Her personal best time of 49.61 seconds ranks her third amongst British women 400 m runners, behind Kathy Cook and Katharine Merry. Born to Igbo Nigerian parents in Newham, east London, she was raised less than one mile from the 2012 Summer Olympics stadium in Stratford. Ohuruogu studied at University College London, where she graduated in Linguistics in 2005. She is also a member of Newham and Essex Beagles Athletics Club. In 2003 Ohuruogu Continue Reading » Clare Balding OBE Clare is a BBC sports presenter, journalist and jockey, best known for presenting the BBC’s horse racing and rugby coverage. Her presenting style is characterized by her passion for sport. She has reported from five Olympic Games, for BBC Radio in Atlanta and for BBC Television in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London. She has presented two Paralympic Games, the Winter Olympics from Turin and Vancouver as well as the Commonwealth Games from Melbourne and Delhi.

She is the face of the BBC’s rugby league coverage, having presented Grandstand from a Rugby League Challenge Cup semi-final, and having been so impressed by the vibrancy and physical challenge of the sport she asked to cover further rugby league events. She was educated at Downe House in Berkshire, where she was Head Girl and a contemporary of comedienne Miranda Hart. While at university she was President of the Cambridge Union Society in Easter 1992 and graduated in 1993 with a 2:1 honours degree. Clare Balding Continue Reading » Daley Thompson CBE Daley was the first athlete to win Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European titles and hold a world record. Given the difficulty of the decathlon, which requires proficiency in ten events, the winner is considered an all-round athletics champion, and Daley Thompson became only the second person in Olympic history to claim the decathlon gold twice. Daley is a former British Decathlete and Olympic Gold medalist. He is also a former professional footballer, and motivational speaker. Daley won the decathlon gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984, and broke the world record for the event four times.

Thompson competed in his first decathlon in 1975 and in 1976 he won the AAA title and was 18th at the Montréal Olympic Games. The following year, he won the European Junior title and in 1978 won the first of his three Commonwealth titles. In Continue Reading » Dame Kelly Holmes DBE MBE Dame Kelly is a much admired former athlete. She specialised in the 800 metres and 1500 metres events, and in a truly memorable sporting year she took gold for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Kelly has set British records in numerous events and still holds the records over the 600, 800, 1000, and 1500 metres distances. Holmes began competing in middle distance events in her youth. She joined the British Army but continued to compete at the organisation’s athletics events. She turned to the professional athletics circuit in the early 1990s and in 1994 she won the 1500 m at the Commonwealth Games and took silver at the European Championships.

Athletics Success Holmes won the 1500 m at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 800 m bronze at the Munich European Championships that year. The 2003 track Continue Reading » Women's 400m – Preview| News | iaaf.org Home of World Athletics (L-R) Anastasiya Kapachinskaya of Russia, Amantle Montsho of Botswana and Rosemarie Whyte of Jamaica compete during the women&#39;s 400 metres semi finals during day two ot the WCH Daegu 2011 (Getty Images) © Copyright 08 AUG 2013 Preview Moscow, Russia Women's 400m – Preview Email Amantle Montsho attempts to become only the second woman in history – the other being Australian great Cathy Freeman in 1997 and 1999 – to land back-to-back 400m titles at the IAAF World Championships and she will be buoyed by an outstanding season.

The 30-year-old Botswanan pipped Allyson Felix in a thrilling 400m final in Daegu and after recording six wins out of eight this season, including five maximum points hauls on the IAAF Diamond League circuit, it is difficult to ignore her claims. As a further illustration of Montsho’s pre-eminence, her national record of 49.33 set in Monaco propelled her to the top of the 2013 world lists and she also owns four of the six fastest times in the world this year. Montsho's path to potential gold has been eased to some degree by the absence of London 2012 Olympic Games champion Sanya Richards-Ross, who underwent toe surgery last autumn and failed to qualify for the USA team. Nonetheless, there are plenty of challengers, led by the 2007 World champion Christine Ohurougu.

The British athlete, who also landed 400m gold and silver medals, respectively, at the past two Olympic Games, is a proven championship performer and is clearly in top form, which she demonstrated by her final pre-Moscow competition in London, which she won in 50.00 – the fourth-fastest time of her career and her fastest outside of a major championships. The host nation has a strong tradition in the women’s 400m and this year is no different as they boast the second and third fastest women over one lap of the track in 2013. The 2010 European champion Antonina Krivoshapka has competed sparingly this year but, after blitzing to an eye-catching season’s best of 49.57 in her most recent outing on July 15 in Moscow, she is clearly in great form. She is joined on the Russian team by Kseniya Ryzhova, who was formerly known as Kseniya Vdovina before she got married recently, who set an impressive personal best of 49.80 in June. The USA may be missing Richards-Ross, but they are well stocked with other top-class talent.

Natasha Hastings produced her fastest run for six years by clocking 49.94 to land the US title in June and she will also be a danger. Her countrywoman Francena McCorory, who finished fourth at the 2011 World Championships, is also another with chances. The 24-year-old is a consistent performer and will be boosted by setting a personal best – and dipping below 50 seconds for the first time in her career – with 49.96 for third in Monaco. World junior champion Ashley Spencer rounds out the three-strong US contingent. Aged just 20, she landed the NCAA title with 50.28 and finished third at the US Championships to secure her place on the team. One of the most heart-warming stories of the 2013 season is the presence of 2007 World Championships bronze medallist Novlene Williams-Mills, who has battled back from breast cancer, first diagnosed in the countdown to last year’s Olympics. The experienced Jamaican athlete has returned to top form this year, clocking a season's best of 50.01 to land her national title, and would be a hugely popular medallist.

Watch out too for Williams-Mills' countrywoman Stephanie McPherson, who set a personal best of 49.92 in Monaco, and has made a real step up in class this season. Jamaica’s third entrant is Patricia Hall, who has a best of 50.86, and who is also entered for the 200m. Other names to look out for include the Nigerian champion Regina George, Guyana’s World junior silver medallist Kadecia Baird and Ukraine’s former European indoor 400m silver medallist Nataliya Pyhyda. Also entered are Sweden’s 2012 European champion Moa Hjelmer and Senegal’s 36-year-old Amy Mbacke Thiam, the 2001 World champion. Click here for OFFICIAL ENTRIES in the Moscow 2013 Athletes section. Steve Landells for the IAAF

Question: Which British women achieved gold in the 400 metres at the 2007 World Athletics Championships?
Answer: CHRISTINE OHURUOGU